16 A Forgotten Feeling (1/2)
”So you're telling us that you were the one who caused that storm to appear?! Right after you opened your inner eye, too? Goddamn, Reed you're a monster.”
”And you've been holed up inside the bottom of the challenge zone for the last two weeks because Violett threw you in there? I don't know what to tell you, bud...”
”....”
I fiercely struggled as I held my tears from coming out because Astrid and Ophelia were here too. Cool guys don't cry, alright. They bitterly hold in their feelings and shrug off the pain.
But they didn't seem to care, even after I told them about my hardships. These girls looked unconcerned about what I'd gone through and looked at me as if I had wronged them somehow. I was the victim here, but here they were looking as if I were a criminal.
”So you've been shacking up with that woman since we've arrived, huh. Sounds like you've been enjoying yourself, Reed. Must be nice having her attend to your every need.”
”You've been complaining about the training you've gone through, but I don't think we've ever heard you direct your criticisms towards her. As if you've been secretly enjoying her company all along, am I right?”
The ladies doth protest too much, methinks. The way they're directing their questions implies something I'd rather not contemplate, thank you very much.
...The way they're looking is sort of cute, but also a bit frightening. These two were no joke when it came to their fighting prowess. Given enough time, these two noble ladies would surely become fearsome adversaries in their own right.
I do not doubt in my mind that they both have enough potential to give Violett a run for her money, as long they didn't die. One of them was granddaughter to one of the most famous Anima shapers in the north.
The other had the blood of all four royal families in her veins. Only God knew what she'd turn into if she was allowed to grow up into maturity.
It'd do me some good to get into their good graces; after all, they were good girls at heart. I felt a bit embarrassed at the thought of them being... jealous because of Violett's actions.
Keeping the peace was the best option, but that meant throwing Violett under the bus. Nothing I could do about that, right? It is what it is...
”Now, now. I'm not staying with her because I want to; she won't let me leave. She told me the way I'd be able to leave is if I beat her in a fight. You gotta cut me some slack here, I'm a prisoner through and through.”
”That sounds just about right, considering Violett's personality. Don't be too harsh on him, ladies. Especially you, Ophelia, you know full well how she can be when she finds a new toy...”
Reed's eyes sparkled as he subtly gave Astor a look of thanks. Chivalry might have died long ago, but the concept of brotherhood hadn't.
”Yeah, I guess you're right. She's always done whatever she wanted, even through force. That's why she's so...” Ophelia's face twisted up the more she thought about it until Horatio patted her on the back and broke her train of thought.
It seemed that all three of them had their unpleasant histories with the Winter Princess.
Well, I couldn't deny that Violett was overbearing and passionate. I suppose that was just her innate nature; a tyrant who smothered everything she loved until it died or ended up hating her.
”So what have you guys been up to while I was in prison? Loafing about with a drink in your hand? Enjoying the easy life down here by the beach?”
”N-No, not really. We've all been spending our time practice our skills while you've been gone. Astrid even set a new record for the fastest kill for the expert-level combat trial. Horatio's been dominating the damage records for the strongest attacks since he's awoken his inner eye.”
Ah, really... It seems like you've all put progressing wonderfully while I've been gone. But it's pretty damn clear that isn't wasn't the only thing that you've been doing since you arrived here.
When you'd all get so tanned, hmm? You're telling me you got that sun-kissed skin inside your training chambers? How strange...
Traitors! You've ditched me again, you sons of bitches! You and I are through... We'll set this in court!
”Come on, bud. At least you're not in the dungeons anymore, right? Just make up a couple of excuses and come out. Or just sneak out at night and we'll take you to the civilian sector in the Reef, hehe...”
”Civilian sector? There's something like that in the Reef? I thought this was a training facility for contenders.”
”It is you fool. But have you never considered how such a massive structure like the Reef is kept up and running? The Reef is more than a training facility for contenders; it's also the heart of the North .”
”Even after it was de-weaponized, we still kept the Reef's core operational for civilian use. The core powers all of the North singlehandedly; cables run across from this place to every city in the empire. It requires a lot of technicians, engineers, and workers to keep it running.”
”Perhaps only the likes of the Goddess would be capable of running the Reef alone, but for weaklings like us, we need a small army to barely keep it online.”
”That's why the Reef has its own population; an entire city exists in here for the workers and their families. The city of Raku, one of the North's great treasures. It's even said that you can buy anything here as long as you've got the money, heh.”
Astor wrapped his arm around Reed's shoulder and whispered, ”One of my cousins lives here and he told me that if I ever stopped by he'd show me around town. Take us to all 'interesting' places, if you catch my drift...”
”I think we need a special boy's night out to learn about Raku's rich 'culture', don't you think?”
Astrid and Ophelia looked at Astor as if he was the lowest scum in the world. They had a rough idea of the kind of filth Astor was whispering in Reed's ear.
Their eyes spoke volumes; they seemed to say, ”We dare you to go out with that cockroach, see what we'll do to you.”
...It's hard pleasing these ladies, man. Can't a guy fool around a bit here and there? I wanna these places of 'culture,' too.
After catching up with them, I headed back to the villa to turn in for the day. I also had some burning questions I needed answering about Anima skills.